Bees, I am not very knowledgeable about liquor. I usually drink either wine or a margarita or mojito and I never order drinks by liquor brand. Could you glance at the brands that my venue offers under the call/premium/super premium categories (there is also a “house category” but I’m definitely not doing that) and let me know if you think it’s worth it to spend +++ to get the best, or should I go middle of the road? I’m willing to spend more if it makes a big difference to people’s enjoyment, but the extra money could go instead to more dessert options or a fun action station or something like that. What do you think?

I think you’re fine with the call group – I drink tequila, and I usually spring for patron for myself but I’d never expect to have it at a bar for a wedding. Jose Cuervo is just fine 🙂 there’s beer and wine too, right?

It depends on your guests and whether you are serving certain drinks. If you are serving martinis, I think you need premium vodka/gin. We had a lot of vodka drinkers, and I think the quality of the alcohol makes a big difference with vodka. We went with Grey Goose vodka and call everything else… a fair amount of people asked for Jack Daniels and Bacardi.

Honestly, not worth it I don’t think. I know some older folks prefer a certain kind of liquor/whiskey, whatnot. But seriously, it’s YOUR wedding, if they expected to have a specific top shelf brand then they are the crazy ones.

Depends on your crowd. If they are looking to just get drunk, rail bar is the way to go. If they enjoy drinking few drinks, so middle of the road. I don’t think its necessary to go with the cream of the crop.

Honestly I think your Call category is fine. Good, solid brands and a nice selection. I don’t think you need to go all the way to super premium, and tbh the difference between Stoli/Cuervo and Absolut/1800 just are not worth the money to many people.

I think you’d be totally fine with the call. We just went through this yesterday at our venue meeting and since most people we know drink regular rail drinks, wine or beer we decided not to do the premium liquor.

I can tell the difference between well and top shelf; it’s huge. But I don’t expect free top shelf at a wedding; it’s nice when it happens but I am not disappointed with an open bar of Popov or Aristocrat (the super cheap stuff that most bars serve as well.) Their call list is actually pretty good and I don’t think many would be disappointed.

I voted for top shelf before I looked at your choices. “Call” actually has some decent brands in it. I think our “top shelf” was what your venue calls “premium”. Haha. I think it’s a personal choice though in the end!

i would never ever turn my nose up to any alcohol at a wedding haha Its free and it does the job 😉 I think the Call or Premium would be your best choice. I don’t see the need to go top shelf here – people are going to drink it either way 🙂 The Call list isn’t that bad either besides maybe the beefeater and Stolichnaya but liquor is liquor. No one is going to pay much attention.

I would probably do a premium gin, vodka and scotch. A lot of my guy friends drink gin, a ton of my gal friends drink vodka, with either soda water or in a martini, so I would want those to be premium b/c if not it can be like drinking rubbing alcohol. I like rum but I feel like there’s not much of a difference between the call and premium brands. I often don’t see tequila at weddings, I’m assuming becasue most people drink that oin a form of a margarita and the little satellite bars at weddings usually don’t have the mix. Oh and I voted for a premium scotch b/c a lot of the older gentlemen folk I know would appreciate that. I see no reason to go the super premium route at all.

How much extra is the premium or super premium? For our wedding we upgraded to premium which was very similiar to your super premium list but it was only $1 extra. I did have guests asking for very high end liquors, like $50+ a drink and then were just told that those drinks were not included but they could purchase them. I think whatever you offer your guests would be kind and if they have a problem with it then they can open their wallet. Personally I am a vodka drinker and enjoy my grey goose but if it was offered to me for free I would rink something else.

If I’m paying for my own drinks, I go for top shelf because I care more about having a tasty beverage than getting smashed. If someone else is providing the drinks, I’m not gonna complain about the quality of the liquor, though. A bigger dessert selection is actaually what I’d be more interested in anyway.

@Eglantine: I think you’d probably be good w. the least fancy ones – there are still some brands there that I drink/recognize and that says a lot considering I am by no means a liquor expert. Nothing jumps out as ‘this is cheap crap’.

The super premium is a bit much, IMO. I don’t think enough ppl would appreciate it.

I’d say go w. the middle group, but even that might go unappreciated, and I think most ppl would prefer more food options/better food. I hardly ever experience good wedding food!

With that said, though, you can’t please everyone. I like a weird assortment of liquor, none of which is on the list. If I am at a weding I don’t expect I’ll find my rare Australian rum, or that I will be given champagne! I think people can make do if you offer a few mixed drink options and maybe a signature cocktail.